Why doesn't the car work???
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 2
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Why doesn't the car work??? For some reason my car is not turning on. First off the car has not given me any issues and this has pretty much happened out of no where. Drove fine all day until I got off work today. I was able to unlock the door with the remote as I do normally but as I put the key in and turn it to start the car everything in the car shuts off. 
The guages, radio and the remote don't seem to work anymore. The weird thing is that I sat there wondering WTF was going on when the needles on the guages started jumping side to side. 
My first thought was that the battery was drained some how and I connected a charger to it. As soon as I connected it everything was working except that when I try and start it there is a loud ticking sound coming from under the hood. I would like to get ideas before I take it to a mechanic and get ripped off.
Any help is appreciated thanks!!!!!!!!
The guages, radio and the remote don't seem to work anymore. The weird thing is that I sat there wondering WTF was going on when the needles on the guages started jumping side to side. My first thought was that the battery was drained some how and I connected a charger to it. As soon as I connected it everything was working except that when I try and start it there is a loud ticking sound coming from under the hood. I would like to get ideas before I take it to a mechanic and get ripped off. Any help is appreciated thanks!!!!!!!!
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
Check to make sure your battery terminals are on tight. Also, check that the ground wiring from the battery to the chassis is secured at the chassis ground point.
If everything looks ok, have the battery tested.
If everything looks ok, have the battery tested.
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Granite City, IL
The charger can't supply enough current to start the car. Give it time to charge, or jump it with another car. The ticking is the starter trying to work without enough power. I don't know if that explains the gauges.
that has happened to me before, all i did was got out, locked in, waited about 5 mins, unlocked it, and it worked as normal, i still dont have an explanation for it, it just happened lol.
it may have something to do with the anti theft or something.
it may have something to do with the anti theft or something.
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 2
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
I am almost sure it's the battery because the lights and everything from the inside of the car turned on only when I had the charger on it but it just wouldn't start. I'll try in get a jump from another car and check the wiring from under the car tomorrow.THANKS!!!!!!!!!!
If you replace the battery and it works fine, great. If the problem comes back i would look into the charging system and the alternator. a bad alternator will kill a battery.
so if it was the battery, what killed the battery?
so if it was the battery, what killed the battery?
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
My car did that once, drove fine all day. Used the door remote turned the ignition it just goes click click click, and the gauge needles were bouncing all around. I just disconnected the battery sanded some corrosion off the terminals reconnected it and its been fine every sense. Definately sounds battery related.
+3 for corrosion. When you put the charger on it the corrosion doesn't come into play because its inside the terminals. Unbolt the positive and check for corrosion before you do anything else.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Houston,Tx.
This is too funny because this just happend to me today. The car started fine this morning I went to the Dentists office,Borders bookstore, and Walmart for lunch as soon as I came out of Walmart the car would not start. After playing with the positive terminal cable for 20 minites the car started. So is it safe to say that corrosion is my problem also?
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 2
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Ok so I tightened the cables of the battery and got a jump from another car which was able to turn on my car. I had the battery and alternator checked and they both work fine. Now the car turns on on its own but the needles on the gauges don't move at all when I' m driving and the radio doesn't work. I'm thinking that I may have a fuse out. Don't know yet because it is raining here and I really don't feel like checking them in the pouring rain. Does it sound like it fuse to you guys?????
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (7)
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 846
Likes: 2
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Ok so I checked all the fuses and they are fine. The gauges and radio still don't work and right now I'm lost I noticed that the lights on my car don't flash when I lock or unlock the car with the remote. Can twitchtwice be right and maybe it does have something to do with the alarm???
I noticed that the lights on my car don't flash when I lock or unlock the car with the remote. Can twitchtwice be right and maybe it does have something to do with the alarm???